Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Physical Abuse
Some common types of physical abuse that occur within nursing homes include:
- Bites
- Inappropriate use of restraint. If you loved one is left retrained to the bed or a chair this can cause bedsores to form or cause a condition to worsen if they aren’t permitted to move around. Being restrained may also impose pain on the individual as well.
- Burns
- Scratches
- Being pushed, shoved, hit, or rustled around
Verbal Abuse
- Yelling or threatening the resident.
- Using slander and other vulgar terminology to insult and/or put down the elderly individual.
- Saying mean and other hurtful things that could potentially put a resident in a state of depression.
Sexual Abuse
This type of abuse can occur in several different ways including:
- Unwanted touching
- Sexual photography
- Rape
- Forced nudity
- Sexual assault and battery
Neglect
Emotional and Social Neglect– When an elder person is ignored, left alone, or talked down to, they are suffering this type of neglect.
Medical Neglect– Most nursing home residents require medication to be distributed to them and even require tending to for any bed sores, infections, cuts, diseases, conditions, etc. If they don’t receive the proper medical attention, they risk having their conditions worsen and could potentially get sicker than they might already be.
Personal Hygiene Neglect– Because most elderly individuals living in a nursing home need help with their basic day to day practices, when they don’t receive the help, they are considered to be neglected. This can be anything from not being bathed, having clean clothes, or brushing their teeth.
What You Can Do to Combat the Abuse Your Loved One Suffered From?
Wyoming Adult Protective Services has a department in charge of handling incoming complaints regarding anyone who is looking to report abuse. The Wyoming Department of Family Services has setup the Call Because You Care Program and you can use the following number to make any reports: 307-777-3602.
Elder abuse is a serious and punishable matter and you nor your loved one should have to be subjected to such circumstances. Aside from reporting the abuse or neglect, you also want to hire one of our trustworthy and compassionate Wyoming nursing home abuse attorneys as they will ensure that justice is served, your loved one is compensated for their pain and suffering, and you can be on your way to getting past this unexpected occurrence.
